The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) today launched the AMCP Research Institute (ARI), a research-based resource that will conduct and facilitate projects important to the mission of managed care pharmacy. Incorporating AMCP’s existing Biologics & Biosimilars Collective Intelligence Consortium (BBCIC), the ARI will expand the scope of research opportunities for AMCP, thereby helping to advance the larger goal of improving public health in the United States. Current Executive Director of BBCIC, Cate Lockhart, PharmD, PhD, will lead the ARI.

“As we work towards improving public health, generating reliable real-world evidence is essential to examining the safety and effectiveness of treatments,” said AMCP CEO Susan Cantrell, MHL, RPh, CAE. “We are proud of BBCIC’s past success and cannot wait to see how the ARI builds on this legacy to expand research capabilities across our industry, which in turn will help to make treatments more accessible and affordable for millions of patients across the country.”

“Practical research underpins treatment and coverage decisions, and the ARI will play a key role in ensuring that the issues most important to managed care pharmacy are addressed in a strategic way,” said Cate Lockhart, the new head of the ARI. “The ARI will allow us to be more comprehensive in our efforts.”

Across AMCP membership, there is increasing interest in practical research that advances the cause of managed care pharmacy and helps to improve public health. The ARI will be an expanded and rigorous resource to support AMCP’s research needs and overall mission.